Starter mechanism



RQM. NARDONE STARTER MECHANISM Filed May 29, 195o rs sheets-sheet 1 'Lrllllllllsg".

DeC- 31, 1935 R. M. NARDONE STARTER MECHANISM Filed may 29, 1930 5 sheets-sheet 2 maentor /Pomeo M. /Var'aane @fd-M l (Ittomeg Dec. 31, 1935. R M` NARDONE 2,025,884

STARTER MECHANI SM Filed May 29, 1950 C5 Sheets-Sheet 3 126 & 126

| nventor 123 I /POmeo M /Varaane Gttorneg Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED 4ST..TEs'

STARTER MECHANISM Romeo M. Nardone, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Eclipse. Aviation Corporation, EastOrange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 29, 1930, Serial No. 457,301y sclaims. (ci. 12a-17er 'I'his invention relates to starter mechanism and more particularly to starters of the type employing as the motive force therefor a fluid under pressure.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a starter for internal combustion engines which is novel, simple and rugged in structure, and reliable in operation, so as to .insure easy starting under all conditions without requiring the expenditure of much manual eiort on the part of the operator.

Another object is to provide a novel engine' starter which is characterized by the use of a uid under pressure as the motive force which Another object is to provide a novel engine starter which is .entirelyself-contained and independent of extraneous sources of power, thereby being especially well adapted for use with aircraft engines or other installations where the conservation of weight and space is an important factor.

Another object is to provide an engine starter of the fluid pressure type which embodies novel means for producing the fluid under pressure used as the motive force of the starter, said means being compactly attached to the starter structure and operating independently of the main engine or any other extraneous sourceiof power.

A further object is to provide a starter for internal combustion engines embodying fluid pressure means for cranking the engine in which the uid under pressure usedas the motive force is produced by a novel automatic pistol mecha-A nism.

A still further object is to provide an engine starter of the uid pressure type embodying novel nistol means for producing the fluid under pressure, and also including means for manually the accompanying drawings, itisto be expressly understoodthat these drawings are for the purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of tthe invention, reference being had for this-purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings.:

Fig. 1 is a. side elevation partly in section of Ione embodiment ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1"with a portion of the pistol` mechanism in section;

Fig. 3 Vis a front ,elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing a` second embodiment of the pistol l mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a bottom 'end view of the cartridge magazine shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the magazine rotating means shown in Fig. 3. i5

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like `reerence characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, the embodiment of the present invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and-2 coin-A prises al driving means adapted to be moved into v engagement with and to crank a rotatable member of the engine to be started, a' uid pressure engine connected to said driving means for the purpose of rotating the same, and an automatic pistol mechanism which is adapted to fire a succession of explosive cartridges and thereby generate a fluid under pressure for supply to the fluid pressure engine. The driving means and the crank lshaft of the iiuid pressure engine are suitably vhoused and supported in a main casing member 6 which is detachably connected as by bolts 'l to a portion of the casing 8 of the'engine to be started. Casing member 6 when viewed from the outer end as indicated in Fig. 2 is substantially circvlardn cross-section, but is provided with an internally threadedvboss 9 extending outwardly froni its substantially cylindrical surface, into which is threaded a cylinder I0 for the fluid pressure engine. The outer end of casing member 6 is open and an end plate Il 4,()v

is secured thereto by any suitable means as shown which provides `both a closure for said open end and a bearing for the fluid pressure crank shaft and the manual actuating means later to be'described. 45

By thus providing the major portion of the starter 'casing in three parts, simplicity and ease of manufacture and assembly are insured, together with ruggedness of construction. Further, to facilitate assembly, inspection, and main-I 'I-he fluid pressure engine which supplies the cranking torque to the engine to be started through the drivingmeans later to be described,

may be of any suitable construction, but as shown herein, comprises a single cylinder, reciprocating iiuid pressure engine having a piston I5 housed within cylinder I0 and suitably secured as by a wrist pin I6 and a connecting rod I1 to a crank pin I8` which is formed as an integral part of a crank shaft I9, the outer end of. which is suitably journaled in a bearing sleeve and boss 2| formed in end plate II. Both crank pin I8 and crank shaft I9 are made hollow for the purpose of reducing weight, and economy of space is also obtained by providing crank shaft I9 with a pair of circular anges 22 and 23 integral with the ends of crank pin I8 for purposes later to be described.

Suitable driving means are provided for transmitting the torque of crank shaft I9 to a rotatable member of the engine to be started for cranking purposes. In the form shown, a driving member 24, which is preferably in the form of a clutch jaw having inclined teeth and adapted to engage a similarly formed clutch jaw 25 carried by a rotatable member of the engine to be started, such as the engine crank shaft or an extension thereof, is drivably connected to crank shaft I9 through suitable means including a yieldable clutch. As shown in Fig. 1, a barrel member 26 is preferably formed integral with iiange 23 of the crank shaft and is rotatably supported within casing member 6 adjacent engine casing 8, thus, in addition to itsother functions, forming the journal for the inner end of said crank shaft. Positioned centrally within driving barrel 26 is provided an interiorly threaded nut 21 which is drivably connected to said barrel member by means of a friction clutch comprising a plurality of friction discs `28 which are splined alternately to the interior of-barrel member -26` and the exterior of nut 21. Discs 28 are maintained in proper operative position between member 26 and nut 21 by means of .an annular spacing member 29 interposed` between the out-` ermost friction'disc and the inner face of ange 23, Aand by a second spacing `member 30 placed between the innermost friction disc anda shoulder 3l formed integrally with nut 21. Friction discs A28 are resiliently urged into frictional engagement with one another .by means of a plu' i rality of coil springs 32 whichbear against a thrust plate 33 adjacent shoulder 3l and which exert their thrust against an annular, exteriorly threaded nut 34 which is threaded into the interior of barrel member 26 and adapted to be locked in any desired position by suitable means such as asmali locking plate 35 secured to nut 34 as by a screw 36 and projecting into one of a series of longitudinal slots 31 formed in the periphery of the outer end of barrel member 26.

If desired, a ring 38 provided with studs 39 may` be employed to maintain coil springs 32 in spaced relation within the barrel member 26, and it will be understood that the pressure of said springs' may be suitably adjusted by means of nut 34.

Any rotation` of nut 21 received from driving barrel member 26 through the medium of the friction clutch will be transmitted to driving member 24 by means of an exteriorly threaded screw shaft 40 which is threaded within nut 21 and splined at its inner end to a hub 4I of driving member 24. A stop nut 42 is provided on the outer end of screw shaft 46 in order to limit the inward motion of said shaft by abutting casing' member 6 and engine casing 8.

against a shoulder 43 formed interiorly of nut 21. Screw shaft 40 is provided with a hollow bore through which extends a rod 44 which is adapted to limit the movement of driving member 24 relative to screw shaft 40. For this purpose rod 44 is provided with an enlarged head 45 at its outer end which abuts the outer end of screw shaft 48,' and at its inner end with a slotted nut 46 limiting the inward movement of driving member 24. A coil spring 41 is provided adjacent the inner end of rod 44 for resiliently urging driving member 24 inwardly toward engine clutch jaw 25, said spring 41 being seated in a recess 48 formed in the inner end of screw shaft 40, surrounding rod.44 and exerting its thrust against the'inner face of driving member 24.

Driving member 24 is normally disengaged from engine member 25 and suitable means are therefore provided for advancing said driving member into cranking engagement with the engine member. As shown, said means are preferably constituted so as to be automatic in operation upon initial rotation of crank shaft I9 and the driving means, and comprise a plurality of longitudinally disposed slots 49 formed in the outer periphery of driving member 24 which are adapted to receive radial lugs 50 which project inwardly from the inner surface of a split ring 5I which is supporte-'l on the curved lip 52 of an oil-sealing member 53 which surrounds the inner end of the driving mechanism and is suitably secured between The three parts of split ring 5I are preferably retained in position on oil-sealing member 53 by means of a surrounding resilient member such as a coil spring 54. An oil-tight seal is formed around hub 4| of driving member 24 by means of a packing ring 55 of leather or other appropriate material which is suitably secured to member 53 as by means of j a plate 56 and rivets 51.

'The structure thus far described constitutes, in

general, the driving means which are adapted to engage and crank the engine to be started and the means for supplying the cranking energy to said driving means which, as shown, is in the form of a `fluid pressure engine. Any rotation of crank shaft I 9 of the uid pressure` engine will be transmitted through barrel member 26, the friction clutch', nut 21, and screw shaft 40 to the driving member 24. With the parts at rest, as shown in Fig. 1, any tendency to rotate driving memberV 24 will be resisted due to the slot and lug arrangement indicated at 49 and'50, and since screw shaft 4I) cannot rotate independently of driving member 24due vto their splined engagement, initial rotation of barrel member 26 and nut 21 will cause screw shaft 4I! to move longitudinally to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, and,

through the action of spring 41, will resiliently '.1

started starts under its own power and the speed of engine member 25 exceeds that of driving member 24, the latter will be pushed backwardly out of engagement with member 25 due to the action of the inclined teeth, and screwv shaft 40 will be retracted to its original position due to the threaded engagement with nut 21, carrying with it, through the action of rod 44, the driving mein:- ber 24. Should a backfire cccur, thev friction clutch will allow relative movement between rnut 21 and the barrel member 26 and prevent 'any injury to the starter parts.

Referring now to the source of supply of the fluid under pressure which is used asthe motive force for the fiuid pressure engine, an automatic pistoll mechanism has been provided which is adapted to re a succession of explosive cartridges and thereby generate a fluid under high pressure, the timing of said explosions being synchronized with the operation of the uid pressure engine by suitable means driven from the engine crank shaft, and the high pressure fluid thus produced being supplied to the cylinder of the fluid pressure engine by suitable means so as to act upon the piston of said'engine. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pistol barrel 58 is mounted in a vertical position adjacent cylinder l0 and supported by and secured to main casing 6 by any suitable means such as a. pair of iianges 59 and 68 and a screw 6|. A pipe or conduit 62 connects the upper end of pistol barrel 58 with cylinder |8 .of the fluid pressure engine, and constitutes a cartridge explosion chamber for the pistol mechanism'and a passageway for conducting the iiuidl produced by the explosion to the fluid pressure engine. The connection between pipe 62 and pistol barrel 58 may be made in any suitable manner as by means of a threaded nipple 63 formed on the end of pipe 62 and screwing into the interior of barrel 58, the connection being made gas-tight by means of a suitable gasket 64 interposedbetween the abutting surfaces of the two members. Suitable means are also provided for connecting the other end of pipe 62 to the `cylinder |8 of the uid pressure engine, which, as shown, comprise an exterorly threaded flange 65 formed on the end of pipe 62 which .abuts a similar flange 66 formed as a part of a gland 61 which is threaded into the interior of a boss 68 formed integral with the top of cylinder |8, and a cupshaped nut 69, the threads of which engage the threaded flange of pipe 62 while the inside of its head bears against flange 66 of gland 61. A suitable gasket is also provided between the abutting surfaces of anges 65 and 66 in order to'make the joint gas-tight.

A cylindrical cartridge magazine-...1| is positioned alongside of pistol barrel 58 and is secured thereto by .any suitable means as a bracket 12 on which the bottom of the magazine rests and a strap 13 encircling magazine 1| and pipe 62. The top of magazine 1| is provided with a removable cap 14 to facilitate the loading of the magazine with a plurality of explosive cartridges, and the lower portion of said magazine communicates directly with the interior of pistol barrel 58 through cooperating openings in the sides of said members so as to allow the transfer of cartridges from magazine 1| to the interior of pistol barrel 58, by suitable loading mechanism later to be described. It is to be understood that magazine 1| may be of any desired size so as to accommodate a suicient number of cartridges for one or more starting operations.

Mounted within pistol barrel 58 so as to be longitudinally slidable therein, is provided suitable mechanism for performing the loading, firing, and ejecting operations of the pistol apparatus, which, in the form shown, comprises a bolt mechanism adapted for reciprocating novement within pistol barrel 58, a firing pin housed within and capable of limited movement relative `to said bolt mechanism, a cartridge positioning` lever, and an extractor. AThe bolt mechanismv comprises a piston-like breech plug 15 which is slidably mounted in and of subsantially the same diameter as the bore of barrel 58, and a carrier 16 which is threaded to the exterior lower .portion of -breech plug 15.and which is slidably mounted within the lower enlarged portion of barrel 58. Carrier 16 is provided with a cam follower or roller 11 suitably supported on a stub shaft 18 and adapted for engagement with a drivingcam 19 which is secured to an extension 88 of crank shaft |9 by any desirable means such as a key 8| and lock nut 82. Carrier 16vis resiliently urged downwardly by a coilspring 83 interposed betweenA a shoulder formed in barrel 58-and a similar shoulder formed in carrier 16 so as to maintain cam follower 11 in contact with cam 19 at all times. thereby imparted to carrier 16 and the remainder of the bolt mechanism, which, by appropriate designing and setting of cam 19,. will be synchronized with the operation of the fiuid pressure engine.

A ring pin 84 having a striking point 85 is housed within breech plug 15 and normally occupies the position shown in Fig. l wherein a spring 86 surrounding firing pin 84 within a recess 81 formed in breech plug 15 exerts its thrust agains A reciprocating motion is a collar 88 formed on firing pin 84 and forces said ring pin to the upper limit o f its travel relative to breech plug 15. In this position collar 88 bears against the upper end of recess 81 and striking point of the firing pin projects sligh'ly above the surface of a recessed seat`89 formed in the upper face of breech plug 15 and 'adapted to receive the base vof an explosive cartridge. A gland 90 is threaded into the interior lower portion of breech plug 15 andacts both as a seat for spring 86 and a guide for a sleeve 9| which is threaded onto the lower portion of firing pin 84.

The position of firing pin 84 described in the preceding paragraph and shown in Fig. 1 is the position said pin would occupy after' a cartridge had been fired. In order to fire a cartridge, however, itis necessary to cock the firing pin by withdrawing the striking p oint 85 below the surface of s eat 89 and to retain i. in said withdrawn posi-- tion until the cartridge to be fired has been fully seated .within the explosion chamber'and the bolt prise a trigger engaging finger or lug 92 which is formed integral with and projects` laterally beyond the surface of sleeve 9| and extends through a longitudinal slot 93 formed in carrier 16. The outer end of lug 92 also extends within a longitudinal slot 94 formed in the lower portion of pistol' barrel 58. 'Ihis cons ruction allows longitudinal movement/offlug 92, sleeve 9| and firing pin 84 with the bolt mechanism relative to barrel member 58, and,I also allows a limited longitudinal movement of said parts relative to the bolt mechanism itself. Adjacent the upper limit of the longitudinal movement of carrier 18 there is provided a trigger member 95 pivotally supported on pistol barrel( 58 as on a pin 95 which may be mounted in a bracket indicated at 91. Trigger 95 is provided at its upper. end with a recess 98 within which there is sea' ed a small coilv spring 99 which bears against the surface of barrel 58 and urges this end of trigger 95 resiliently outtrigger 95 is provided with an inclined cam surface |00 and a tooth-shaped detent I0| which projects within longitudinal slot 94 formed 'in barrel 58. Detent I0| is adapted to engage the outer end of lug 92 as the bolt mechanism, in-

cluding the iiring pin, is moved upwardly by means of cam 19 from its lowermost position as shown in Fig. l (roller 11 being on the lowest point A of cam 19), and when such engagement occurs, firing pin 84 is held against further upward movement. Carrier 16 and breech plug 15,

of spring 86, causing striking point 85 to impinge against the bottom of a cartridge which has previously been positioned within seat 89 by mechanism, later to be described, and causing an explosion.

Referring now to the cartridge positioning means, as shown in Fig. 2, a cartridge positioning `1ever |03 is pivotally supported in any suitable manner, as on a pin |04 supportedin a bracket' indicated at |05 formed integral with barrel 58,

and its upper arm extends within the lower portion of cartridge magazine 1I through a slot |06 formed in the bottom and side of said magazine. The lower arm of lever |09 bears against a cam surface |01 formed integral with carrier 16 and y projecting through a longitudinal slot |08 formed in the lower portion of barrel 58. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the bolt mechanism is at the lower limit of its longitudinal movement and is ready to begin the loading operation. The lower arm of cartridge positioning lever |03 is on the lowest point of cam surface |01 and the upper arm of said lever is in its extreme outer position which allows an unexplodel cartridge |09 to drop to the bottom of magazine 1I ready to be moved to the right as viewedin Fig. 2 by the upper arm of cartridge positioning lever |03. As the lbolt mechanism moves upwardly under the action of cam 19, the lower arm of lever |03 rides up on,

the face of cam surface |01 and the upper arm of said lever pushes the unexploded cartridge |09 to the right and positions the same on top of breech plug'15, so that continuing upward movement'of the bolt mechanism will carry said cartridge within the bore of pipe 62 and seat it in its proper position for firing. At this time firing pin 84 will be withdrawn within the bolt mechanism so that striking point is below thesurface of seat 89, and the extractor rim IIO of cartridge |09 will be fully seated within said seat.

- As the limit of upward movement of the bolt mechanism is reached, the firing pinis released as previously described and under the force of spring 86, striking point 85 is driven against the base of cartridge |09 causing an explosion, the

fluid thusl produced being conducted to the fluid pressure engine through the interior of pipe 62. The expansion of the uid forcespiston I5 of the iluid pressure engine downward thus rotating crank shaft I9 and the driving means; After about Adegrees of the downward stroke of piston I5, an exhaust port I|| in the side of cylinder I0 is uncovered and allows the expanded uid to escape to the atmosphere. Cam 19 is so constructed, as shown in Fig. 2, that the bolt mechanism will be maintained at the limit of its upper travel from the time cartridge'I09 is fired (indicated at C) until exhaust port III is opened (in- 5 dicated at D), thus preventing any escape of the fluid under pressure through the pistol mechanism and'thereby insuring that the maximum lamount of energy obtainable from said fluid will be exerted upon piston I5.

' As the bolt mechanism` begins its downward movement, a. spring extractor II2 which is secured within a longitudinal recess formed in the periphery of the upper end of breechvplug 15 and which has a toothed head ||3 normally re- 15 s'iliently urged to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, but having been forced to the right by. inclined surface 63*al to allow cartridge |09 to be fully seated in recess 89 and in theexplosion chamber, will clamp extracting rim ||0 of the cartridge |09 20 and cause said cartridge to be withdrawn from the bore of pipe 62 and carried downwardly with the bolt mechanism. As the bolt mechanism approaches the lower limit of its longitudinal movement, the upper arm of lever |03 will begin to 25 move to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 and to allow an unred cartridge, which has previously been prevented from falling to the bottom of magazine 1| by means ofthe bent-over end I I4 of said lever, to drop towards the bottom of said maga.- 30 zine ready for another load. When the bolt mechanism again begins its upward movement, the cycle previously described will be repeated and the unexploded cartridge in being moved to the right by lever |03 and positioned on top of 3'5 breech plug 15 will eject the empty cartridge through a. port I I5 formed in the side of barrel 58. barrel 58.

Although the successive explosions produced by the pistol mechanism thus described are automat- 40 ically regulated by means of cam 19 which is driven from crank shaft I9 of the fluid pressure engine, means must be provided for causing the initial explosion and for commencing the op-' erations of the fluid pressure engine. Said means 45 are preferably adapted for manual operation by the operator of the internal combustion engine which is to be started, and in the form shown comprise manual cranking means which are drivably connected to crank shaft I 9 of the fluid pres- 50 sure engine. A cranking shaft II6 is rotatably supported in a bearing sleeve I|1 lin a boss IIB formed in end plate I I at right angles to the axis of crank shaft I9. The inner end of shaft I6 is provided with av bevel gear |I9 secured thereto 55 by any suitable means including a nut |20 and washer |2I, which meshes with a large bevel gear- |22 secured to flange 22 of crank shaft I9 in any suitable manner (not shown) The outer end of cranking shaft II6 is provided with a cylindrical 60 crank head |23 which is secured thereto as by means of a shear pin |24 and provided with a cranking pin |25 having outwardly projecting ends |26 adapted to be engaged by an ordinary hand crank. ARotation of cranking shaft ||6, which is in turn transmitted to crank shaft I9 of the fluid pressure engine, will not Only actuate the pistol mechanism so as to causcvan explosion and thereby operate the uid pressure engine by the force thereof, but will also, through barrel 26 which is secured to crankshaft I9, impart rotation to the driving means and` cause engagement of driving member 24 with engine member 25 by means of the automatic engaging mechanism previously described. By this means it is 75 poses, none of it being expended in the prelimi nary step of causing cranking engagement of the members. It will also be understood that should the supply of explosive cartridges become ex-` hausted, the starting operation may still be perf formed manually by the rotation of cranking Shaft I I6.

As previously described, and as shown in Fig. 2,A

end plate is detachably secured to main casing member 6 by a plurality of screws. These screws are preferably provided at equally spaced intervals around the periphery of plate so that said plate may be secured with cranking shaft I I6 in any desired position as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2, so as to facilitate cranking.

A second embodiment of the pistol mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 3, '4, and 5, and diifers from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 only in the construction of the cartridge magazine and loading means. As shown, a rotary magazine |26 provided with a plurality of cartridge recesses |21 is rotatably supported in a vertical position on a pin |28 between a pair of anges |29 and |30, which may be formed` integral with barrel 58, and extends within the barrel in such a manner that, as the magazine rotates, each of the cartridge recesses |21 may in succession be centered with Arespect to the bore of barrel 58 and the bolt mechanism. Each recess |21 is provided at its lower endwith a plurality of projections |3|, preferably three in number, which are integral with magazine 26 and extend radially inwardly from the` periphery of the recess to form a seat for the bottom of an explosive cartridge |32.

After a cartridge has been positioned concentrically with the bore of barrel 58 by the magazine rotating means later to be described, the bolt mechanism is adapted to move upwardly through recess |21 and to advance cartridge |32 to its proper ring position within the explosion chamber -of pipe 62. For this purpose breech plug 15 is provided in its periphery with a plurality of longitudinal grooves |33 which correspond to and are adapted to receive projections |3| duringthe upward travel of the bolt mechanism. When cartridge |32 is fully seated, it is red in a manner similar to that previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

The extracting means for withdrawing the empty cartridge case |32 from pipe 62 after the explosion comprises a spring extractor |34, similar to extractor ||2, secured by any suitable means to the outer surface of breech plug 15 in the same vertical plane with pin I 28 and provided with a toothed head |35. The normal tension of spring extractor |34 maintains head |35 in the position shown in Fig. 3, away from the top of breech plug 15, as long as it moves within a longitudinal groove |36 formed in the inner wall of barrel 58, the upper end of which extends above the lower portion of magazine |26. 'Ihis construction allows the bolt mechanism to move upwardly andengage the bottom of cartridge |32 before the extractor is .resiliently urged inwardly by the cam-like construction of the upper end of groove |36 so as to cause toothed head |35 to project within a longitudinal peripheral groove |31 formed in the magazine |26 and communicating with recess |21, and to engage vthe extracting rim 0 of the cartridge. After the cartridge has been fired, this toothed engagement of head |35'with rim ||0 will withdraw or extract the empty cartridge case from the explosion chamber and return it to recess |21 within magazine |26, the toothed engagement being re- 5 leased by the spring action of extractor |34 when groove |36 is reached in the downward travel of the bolt mechanism.

Suitable means must also be provided for automatically rotating magazine |26 after each car- 10 tridge is fired in order to present a fresh one for the next load, which, as shown, may comprise a magazine operating lever |38 secured at its lower end to a hub |39 which is pivotally mounted on a pin |40 supported in a pair of brackets indi- 15 cated at |4| as projecting from the surface of.

barrel 58, and having at its upper end a pivotally mounted finger |42 which is adapted to engage one of a plurality of lugs |43 circularly arranged on the bottom of magazine |26. Hub |39 is also 29 provided with a short arm or cam followerv |39, similar to the lower arm of lever |03 shown in Fig. 2, which bears against cam |01 of carrier 16 and acts in a manner similar to that previously described in connection with lever |03 to rock 25 vlever |38 about its pivot and, due to the engagement of finger |42 with lugs |43, to rotate magazine |26 sc as to successively bring the various recesses |21 in line with the bore of the pistol mechanism. Finger |42 is pivoted as on a pin 30 |44 and is provided with a suitable spring |45 so as to maintain its 'normal position as shown in Fig. 3 when rotating the magazine, andyet to allow it to resiliently yield when passing over the next lug on the return movement of lever |38. 35 Each recess |21 is accuratelyl centered with the bore of the pistol mechanism, amnaga'zine |26 is held against further rotation after being thus centered, by means of a detent |46 which is housed in and projects from the bottom of 40 upper flange |29, and is resiliently urged into engagement with one of a plurality of .depressions |41 suitably formed and located in the upper end of magazine |26, by'means of a small spring |48 which is compressed within the re- 45 cess housing detent |46 by a suitable screw |49. With this type of magazine, in order to load a fresh supply of explosive cartridges, it is only necessary to withdraw pin |28 and remove magazine |26, either replacing it with a full one or 50 reloading and replacing the one removed by dropping a. cartridge into each recess |21 from the top, projections |3| forming a seat therefor and preventing the cartridge from dropping through the magazine. 55

` Describing now the operation of the present invention, the operator of the internal'combus-A tion engine to be started first loads the cartridge magazine with a plurality of unexploded cartridges so as to provide sufcient ammunition to produce a sufficient number of successive explosions to insure a successful start. An ordinary hand crank is'then fitted-to the end of cranking shaft ||6 and is rotated slowly until driving member -24 has been fully engaged with 65 ing to move a cartridge upward toward its firing position withinthe lower portion or explosion 'I5 combustion engines which is simple and rugged Ain structure, eiiicient and reliable in operation,

' engine.

`stallations for engines of this type.

chamber of pipe 62. As cranking shaft I I6 continues to be rotated, the bolt mechanism will be further advanced upwardly towards firing position, and, at point B on cam 19, lug 92 engages' detent IllI of the trigger mechanism and the cocking operation is started. Still further rotation advances the bolt mechanism until point C on the cam is reached when trigger operating member |02 forces detent IUI outwardly so as to release lug 92 and allow the firing pin to be rapidly forced upwardly against the base of the cartridge which is now securely seated within the explosion chamber. As previously described, cam 'I9 is so formed that when' the explosion takes place, piston I5 is at the top of its stroke.

The fluid which is produced as a result ofthe explosion of `the cartridge is under very high pressure and is conveyed through pipe 62 to the interior of cylinder I0 and there acts upon piston I 5 so as to force it rapidly downward, said movement being transmitted to crank shaft ISand through driving-barrel 26 and the remainder of the driving means to the engine member 25, thus cranking the engine to be started.

The hand crank attached to cranking shaft I I6 will be automatically disengaged upon the first explosion due to the usual pin and slot connection, and subsequent explosions will be produced automatically by the rotation of crank shaft I9 under the action of the fluid pressure The engine to be started will thus be continuously cranked until it starts under its own power at which time members 24 and 25 are disengaged due to the action of the inclined teeth, driving member 24 being fully withdrawn to its original position when the fluid pressure engine ceases to operate. It will be understood that,- if desired, the cartridges may be loaded and fired singly, particularly in those installations where experience proves that one explosion is suilicientto start the lmain engine. Should a backfire occur during the starting operation, the friction clutch will allow relative motion be- 4tween .nut 21 and driving barrel 26 and thus and easily attachable to any internal combustion engine. It is especially well adapted for use with aircraft engines because of its compactness, lightness, and independencey of electric batteries or compressed uid storage tanks or other accessories which are usually required for starting in- The present structure is entirely self-contained and normally derives its motive power by the explosion of a cartridge, although, if necessary, the mechanism may also be actuated by manual means. The present invention provides a driving member which is adapted to engage and crank a member ofthe engine to be started, combined with a fluid pressure engine and manual means for rotating said driving member. 'Ihe engagement of the driving member with the engine member is performed automatically upon rotation of the driving means, and means are provided for causing said engagement prior to the actuation of the iiuid pressure engine so as to derive the greatest benefit possible out of the iiuid produced foractuating said engine. Finally,

a novel automatic pistol mechanism has been provided for producing the uid under pressure which operates the uid pressure engine, which means are automatically driven and synchronized with the operation of the fluid pressure engine.

It will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific forms described and illustrated in the drawings, but is capable of avariety of mechanical embodiments. For example, any suitable fluid pressure engine such as a multi-cylinder radial engine might be substituted for the one shown in the present embodiment, or the pistol mechanism provided might be replaced by any equally suitable device. Various other changes, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit r of the invention, and reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition `of the limits of the invention. For claims to features shown but not claimed herein, reference is to be had to my June 4, 1935.

What is claimed is:

' 1. In a starter for internal combustion engines,4

2. In a starter for internal combustion engines,

the combination of an engine engaging member,

Y a uid pressure engine having a drive shaft coaxial with said engine engaging member, a barrel member secured to said driving shaft for rotation therewith, means for yieldingly connecting said barrel member and said driving member, pistol means for producing a series of explosions thereby generating a iluid under pressure for Supply t0 said fluid pressure engine, and means. driven by said driving shaft for automatically actuating said pistol means.

3. In a starter for internal combustion'engines,

application No. 24,910 iiled the combination of an engine engaging member, a uid pressure engine having a drive shaft coaxial with and drivably connected to said driving means so as to transmit rotation thereto, means effective upon initial rotation' of said driving means for automatically shifting said engine engaging member to engine engaging position, pistol means for producing a fluid under pressure for actuating said uid pressure engine, and manually rotatable means for causing operation of said shifting means and by the same action moving said pistolv means into pressure generating position.

4. An engine starter comprising in combination, an engine engaging member, a uid pressure engine having a drive shaft coaxial with said engine engaging member, means for drivably connecting said drive shaft? and engine engaging member to rotate the latter said'connecting means including a'barrel member and a second part e1'- amasar automatically actuating said pistol means in synchronism `with the operation of said engine, and

manually rotatable means for causing said engine engaging member to move into engagement with the engine member and by the same action moving said pistol means into explosion producing position.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an engine engaging member, of a fluid pressure engine having a driving shaft coaxial with said engine engaging member and a barrel member integral with said driving'shaft and` surrounding a portion of said engine engaging member, means for drivably connecting said barrel member and said engine engaging member, a pistol mechanism adapted to re a succession of explosive cartridges thereby generating a uid under pressure, means `for supplying said uid to said fluid pressure engine, and means including a cam secured to said driving shaft for automatically actuating said pistol mechanism in synchronsm with the operation of said uid pressure engine.

6. In apparatus of the class described the combination with an engine engaging member, of a iluid pressure engine having a driving shaft coaxial with said engine engaging member, a barrel member integral with said driving shaftand surrounding a portion of said engine. engaging member, means for drivably connecting said barrel member and said engine engaging member, a pistol mechanism adapted to fire a succession of explosive cartridges thereby generating a uid under pressure, means for supplying said uid to said iluid pressure engine, means including a cam secured to said driving shaft for automatically actuating said .pistol mechanisml in synchronism withfthe operation of said uid pressure engine, 15

ROMEO M. NARDONE.- 

